The NBA is scheduled to return to play on July 30th 2020.
We’re going to update readers on everything you need to know about the return of basketball. At the conclusion of the article, I’ll share my best bet to win the 2020 NBA Championship.
The 2019-20 NBA season was postponed on March 11th 2020 because of COVID-19.
The NBA Board of Governors approved a competitive format to return to play on June 4th. Then on Friday, June 26th, the NBA and Players Association finalized the plan to return on July 30th.
Barring any unfortunate setbacks, we’ll have basketball back next month. Here’s everything you need to know.
Updated 2020 NBA Schedule (Playoff Dates)
- NBA Seeding Games: Scheduled to start on July 30th 2020.
- NBA Playoffs (First Round): Scheduled to start on August 17th 2020.
- NBA Playoffs (Conference Semifinals): Scheduled to start on August 31st 2020.
- NBA Playoffs (Conference Finals): Scheduled to start on September 15th 2020.
- NBA Playoffs (Championship): Scheduled to start on September 30th 2020.
The NBA finals are scheduled to end no later than October 13th 2020.
Which NBA Teams Will Be Competing?
There are 22 NBA teams that are returning to play.
Each team will play in eight seeding games. The teams qualified for the NBA playoffs after the play in games will compete in the NBA playoffs using the same format as every other year.
There’s one catch, though.
The #8 seed in each conference needs to finish more than four games ahead of the #9 seed.
If the #8 seed fails to have a 5-game lead on the #9 seed after the seeding games, the #8 and #9 seeds will compete in a short play-in tournament. The #8 seed needs to win one game to earn a playoff spot, while the #9 seed needs to win two games in a row to earn the playoff spot.
This caveat could add some extra excitement to the seeding round.
Here are the 22 teams still in the hunt for the 2020 NBA Championship:
*Odds are from the Bovada Sportsbook ($250 NBA Bonus)
NBA Eastern Conference Teams (9 Teams)
- Milwaukee Bucks: NBA Title Odds (+290) / Conference Winner Odds (-200)
- Boston Celtics: NBA Title Odds (+1200) / Conference Winner Odds (+600)
- Toronto Raptors: NBA Title Odds (+1800) / Conference Winner Odds (+700)
- Miami Heat: NBA Title Odds (+4000) / Conference Winner Odds (+1200)
- Philadelphia 76ers: NBA Title Odds (+2200) / Conference Winner Odds (+800)
- Indiana Pacers: NBA Title Odds (+8000) / Conference Winner Odds (+4000)
- Brooklyn Nets: NBA Title Odds (+6000) / Conference Winner Odds (+4000)
- Orlando Magic: NBA Title Odds (+75000) / Conference Winner Odds (+20000)
- Washington Wizards: NBA Title Odds (+100000) / Conference Winner Odds (+30000)
NBA Western Conference Teams (13 Teams)
- Los Angeles Lakers: NBA Title Odds (+190) / Conference Winner Odds (+125)
- Los Angeles Clippers: NBA Title Odds (+300) / Conference Winner Odds (+180)
- Houston Rockets: NBA Title Odds (+1500) / Conference Winner Odds (+700)
- Denver Nuggets: NBA Title Odds (+2200) / Conference Winner Odds (+1100)
- Utah Jazz: NBA Title Odds (+5000) / Conference Winner Odds (+2500)
- Dallas Mavericks: NBA Title Odds (+3300) / Conference Winner Odds (+1800)
- New Orleans Pelicans: NBA Title Odds (+10000) / Conference Winner Odds (+4500)
- Portland Trail Blazers: NBA Title Odds (+7500) / Conference Winner Odds (+4500)
- Oklahoma City Thunder: NBA Title Odds (+8000) / Conference Winner Odds (+5000)
- Memphis Grizzlies: NBA Title Odds (+25000) / Conference Winner Odds (+15000)
- San Antonio Spurs: NBA Title Odds (+75000) / Conference Winner Odds (+30000)
- Phoenix Suns: NBA Title Odds (+50000) / Conference Winner Odds (+30000)
- Sacramento Kings: NBA Title Odds (+75000) / Conference Winner Odds (+30000)
Where Will Games Be Played?
The NBA and Disney have agreed to terms and games will be played at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex (Walt Disney World Resort) near Orlando, Florida.
All games are scheduled to be played at three venues on the property.
No fans will be permitted to attend games, including the NBA playoffs.
Best Bet to Win the 2020 NBA Championship
Toronto aren’t getting any respect. Everyone expected Toronto to implode this season after losing Kawhi Leonard, but they have the second-best record in the East (46-18).
I don’t think playing away from home will matter too much either. The Raptors were 23-9 at home and on the road this season. Only four teams in the East have a winning record on the road.
Defense can win championships in the NBA and the Raptors only allow 106.5 PPG (1st).
The major concern with the Raptors is going to be getting through the Bucks. Toronto are 0-2 in games against the Bucks this season. However, the Raptors went 1-3 against the Bucks during the 2018-19 regular season, only to defeat the Bucks in the playoffs (4-2).
It’s all going to come down to which teams can find their form the fastest.
There’s little room for error and with teams having more than three full months off since the NBA was postponed, we have no idea how teams will look when they get back on the court.